Internal-combustion engine



3 Sheets-Shea*l 1 Filed August l5 R. F. L oNABr-:RGE'R ET A1.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Nov. 30 1926.

Nov. V30, 1926.

R. F, LONABERGER ET AL INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed August 15, 19215 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 30 1926.

R. F. oNABERGER ET Ai.

INTERNAL CDMBUSTION ENGINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed August 15. 1921 CIIPatented Nov. 30, 1926.

ROBERT E. LONABERGER AND cHAELEs E. sANDs. or READING, PENNSYLVANIA, As-

srGNoEs '.ro LLOYD A. UNGER; TRUSTEE.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION `Elll'Gl'ltil'lll..

Application filed August 15, 1921. Serial No. 492,398.

This invention relates particularly to engines operating on heavy liquidfuel such as kerosene, distillate, and fuel oil, but is not restrictedto such engines.

The invention aims to increase the thermal efficiency of internalcombustion engines by vaporizing the fuel under pressure and heating andcompressing the airl necessary for combustion before mixing the two tgether. Preferably the air is heated and compressed in the cylindervbefore the vaporized fuel is admitted, and after admitting the fuel themixture is further compressed before it is ignited.

Theinvention further aims to improve the fuel vaporizer by the use of anelectric heating element, and by improved means of controlling theadmission of liquid fuel and vaporized fuel to vthe heating element andcylinder, respectively.I

Further aims and advantages of the invenv tion appear in connection withthe following description of a preferred form `of the inventionillustrated in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figul is a side elevation of an internalcombustion engine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, drawn tola larger scale, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 44 in Fig. 3.

The engine shown in the drawlngs is. of conventional four-stroke cycletype, having four cylinders contained in a cylinder block 1 with aseparable head 2, and furnished with a crank shaft 3 (see Fig. 3),connecting rods 4, pistons "5, inlet and exhaust yvalves 6, exhaustmanifold 7, ignition apparatus comprising spark plugs 8, and water pump9, all of suitable form. The water pump discharge pipe 10 leads to theWater jackets 11 surrounding the cylinders, and the water circulatesthrough tlie jackets and is discharged to the radiator r(not shown)through a suitable manifold 12 runningracross the tops of the cylindersand constituting a part of the cylinder head 2.

The dimensions of the cylinders and istons and stroke of the en ne aresuch t at the pressure in the cylin ers at the end of the comressionstroke'is much higher than is us in gasoline or kerosene burningengines, preferably 125 pounds per square mcli and over.

las

The liquid fuel (which may he gasoline, kerosene, distillate or fueloil) is supplied from a suitable tank, through the supply pipe 13 andthe fuel feed pump 14l to the .several fuel vaporizers 15, of which inthc illustrative embodiment of the i-nvention there is one for eachcylinder. (See Fig. 1.). A. pressure relief valve 16 having anadjustable spring controls-the fuel pressure and rerents excessivepressure on the fuel supp y pipe. The vaporizers are surrounded by hotwater from the cylinder jackets,y

which is kept circulating by means of' the pump 9. The pump shaft 17 isdriven from the engine by suitable gearing, such as the chain 17, andsuitable sprockets on the crank shaft and pump shaft, as shownin Fig. 2.

The fuel vaporizers 15 are mounted in suitable chambers in the manifold12, con-- nected by'suitable passages with the respective cylinders (seeFig. 3), and each comprises a valve 18 for controlling the ad.-

mission of liquid to the heater element v19 and a valve 2O forcontrolling the admission of fuel vapor to the cylinder.- In the illus-ytrative embodiment of the invention the valves 18 and 20 aremechanically operated from the engine crank shaft by 'a half timecamshaft 21 through suitable gears and shafts 21a vso as to'rotate atthesame speed as the half time shaft 22 operating'the inlet and exhaustvalves.

In the form of vaporizer shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 3, theheater element 19 has a steel shell Whichis held in place by a" screwplug 23, which bears against a iange 24 on the steell shell.` Aninsulator 25 of porcelain or othersuitable material is fastened in theshelland supports the electrical resistance element 26 and termi-nalpost 27 connected to one of its ends. Insulated wires lead to theterminal posts for supp/lying current to the heater. The resistanceelement 26 is a carbon rod. all but the terminal end of whichiscontained in a steel case 28, from which it is spaced for the greaterpart of its length.

Liquid fuel is admitted through the pipe 13 and communicatin passages tothe space 22 surrounding the ange 24 of the heater element. The flangehas a radial passagesov through it, normally closed by the valve 18, andleading to an annular space 29 in the porcelain Q5 surrounding thecasing 28 for the resistance element. This annular space envelops thecasing 28 and opens into a space 30 in the vaporizer manifold whichleads to the fuel port 31 in the cylinder. This port 31 is normallyclosed by the valve 20.

The stems 32, 33 vof the valves 18, 20, respectively, are guided inbushings 34, 35, respectively, and are fitted with grooves and rings 36for preventing liquid fuel 0r fuel vapor from escaping. The outer endsof the valve stems are threaded and fitted with adjustable spring cups37 and locking screws 38 for adjusting the throw of the respectivevalves independently. A plug 40 holds the closing spring 39 and valve 18in place, and a split housing 41 screwed, to thev manifold lolds t)hespring and .valve 20 in place.` (See The valves 18', 20, are operatedsimultaneously by a double arm bell crank lever 42 having a cam arm 43engaged once for every revolution of the shaft 21 by one of the cams 44carried thereby. Each arm of the bell crank lever engages against theclosed side of onev of the, respective spring cups 37 to open thevalves. is pivoted upon a shaft 45 journaled alongside of the cam shaft21 in links 46 pivoted at their other vends on the shaft 21. Each linkhas an operating arm 47 slotted to receive an adjusting sleeve nut 48mounted ou a pivot screw 49. An operating arm 50 is vadjustably clampedon each adjusting nut 48 and connected for simultaneous actuation by a'link 51. By adjusting the angular position of the operating arm on thenut each pivot link 46 may be adjusted independently to `suit thedesired alinement for the shaft 'y 45. A control rod 52 is attached tothe link 5l to adj ust the angular position of the shaft and bell cranklevers to suitthe conditions of operation of the engine., By shiftingthis control' rod the position of the pivotal axis of the bell cranklevers may be changed to vary their throw and thus vary the amount ofopening of the valves 18 and 20.

The operation Vof the engine .is similar to that ofthe usual four-strokecycle internal combustion engine of the fuel injecting type| having apump for forcing the fuel into the cylinders and wherein the air istaken in on the suction stroke and the products of -com bustion aredischarged on the exhaust stroke through suitable valves operated bycams or other suitable means driven from the crank shaft of the engine.

Preferably the dry air is. compressed in,

the'cylinders to a pressure corresponding to atemperature ofapproximately the Vaporizying temperature of the fuel before thevap'orized fuel is admitted, Vwhereupon the va The bell crank lever 42lporized fuel is admitted under a pressurein excess of the pressure ofthe air at that point in the compression stroke, and the compression ofthe mixture continued to a pressure short of the pressure at which themixture will. pre-ignite. Thepressure of the vaporized fuel may becontrolled by varying the relief valve spring 16, and the amount of fuelmay be varied by adjusting the valve opening under manual control.

The invention is not restricted to the apparatus shown in thedrawings,nor to the particular method of operation-described.

le claim the following as our invention:

1. 1n an explosion engine, having a working cylinder, means forvaporizing liquid fuel comprising an electric heatingy element, fuelpassages leading to said heating element and from said heating elementto said cylinder, and valves in said passages actuated by the operationof said engine to control the flow of liquid fuel to said vaporizer andthe flow of fuel vapor from said vaporizer to said cylinder.

2. 1n an explosion engine, having a working cylinder, means forvaporizing liquid fuel comprising an electric heating element,

fuel passages leading to said heating element and from said heatingelement to said cylinder, and valves -in said passages actuated by theoperation of said engine to control the flow of liquid fuel tosaidvaporizer and lthe 'flowk of fuel vapor from said vaporizer to saidcylinder, said valves operating to open and close simultaneously.

3. In an explosion engine, having a working cylinder, means forvaporizing' liquid fuel comprising an electric heating element, fuelpassages leading to said heating element and from said heating elementto said cylin-y der, variable throw valves insaid passages actuated bythe operation of said engine to control the flow of liquid fuel to saidvaporizer and the flow of fuel vapor from said vaporizer to saidcylinder, andmeans for controlling the amount of opening of said valves.

4. In a fuel vaporizer for explosion. engines` an electrlcal heatingelement, passages for fuel leadlng to said element and from ,lill

said element to said engine, valves in said passages and operating meansfor said valves comprising a lever, means for oscillating said leverfrom a rotating shaft, and means for changing the pivot point of saidlever to vary its amount of oscillation andthe throw of said valves. p

5; In a. fuel vaporizer for explosion en.

gines. an electrical heating element, passages i for fuel leading tosaid element andfroni said element to said engine, valves in saidpassages, said valves having springs tending to hold them closed. andoperating means:

foi-'said valves comprising a lever having*y two arms, adjustableconnections betweenv said arms and valves, means for oscillatingchamber, means for circulatingfhot Water Said lever from a rotaingshaft, and means around said chamber, and means for main- 10 forchanging ehe pivot point of said lever to taining the vnporized fuel insaid chamber vary its amount of oscillation and the throw underpressure.

of said valves. In testimony whereof, we haw signed om 6. A Vaporizelfor liquid fuel comprising names to this specfoation. an electricalheating; element surrounded by ROBERT F. LONABERGER. a casing andenclosed inv a water jacket/ed CHARLES F. SANDS.

